Site Map and


San Diego Jewish Academy
9th and 10th Grade Humanities
Site Map


There's a ton of stuff here, some of it is even worthwhile, so we thought we would list it all for you. Aren't we nice?

I'm working on this as you read so make sure you come back to see more lessons, resources, and other tasty morsels.

Gallery - collection of writing and art work from WriteDesign students, current and past, and others associated with WriteDesign.

artsforum - our goal, bring together passionate artists from different media, creative writing, dance, film/video, music, photography, theatre, and visual arts in order to share means of expression to find an expanded voice as well as develop opportunities to continue pursuing each individual's artistic passion.

18 - SDJA's Literary Magazine

Quotes - shows what we believe and how we live, at least how we would like to live.

Historical and Cultural Context - provides an overview of art movements and the context in which they developed. We have not covered every movement or period, rather selected snippets to help provide students with an opportunity to explore the elements that have influenced other artists in their quest for expressing personal voice. As with all of our work, this site remains a work in progress.

Colorfulives - represent a small compilation of artists and portraits that express life and serves as a springboard for others to see.

Andy Goldsworthy Beneath the Surface Appearance - An overview of Andy Goldsworthy and how he creates works in nature that use line, shape, form, space, value, and texture to help focus our attention.


Syllabi

Resources including Graphic Organizers

Assignments: Art - Design

Grading

Assignments: History - Literature

Portfolios

Assignments: Writing - Reading

San Diego Jewish Academy Humanities

Assignments: Pablo Neruda - Writing Project

Topics of Interest (we hope)

Setting Goals

WriteDesign Specifics

eyeMindCandy

Teachers, Doug and Melissa


Syllabi or silly-buses taking you on an academic adventure | Top

 


Assignments | Top

Art - Design

  • Animal Symbolism - lists animals and their respective symbolism from a variety of cultures
  • Art With a Voice Feature Article (WriteDesign 2001-02) - provides students the opportunity to explore different art movements, periods, and artists to find a style or genre that they would like to emulate. After completing this assignment, the content of which will go on the Historical and Cultural Context site, each student will work in the style of the artist researched in this project in subsequent works.
  • Chapbook - To provide a vehicle of rememberance. Each student will have an opportunity to reflect on the year and experiences in their life, along with the lessons learned.
  • Color - Basic rules of thumb on the use of color, with examples and a color study chart. Use these as a good place to start. Feel free to bend these rules, but only when you understand the spirit of the rule.
  • Fill the Well - active (or incidental) pursuit of images to refresh our artistic reservoirs. Now includes a list of "inspirational" San Diego sites.
  • Identifying Self - Character Traits - provides students a vehicle to identify their own character traits and develop a better understanding of themselves using the creative process.
  • Masks From Around the World - provides an overview of masks throughout history in a variety of cultures.
    See Animal Symbolism - lists animals and their respective symbolism from a variety of cultures; and
    Color - Basic rules of thumb on the use of color, with examples and a color study chart. Use these as a good place to start. Feel free to bend these rules, but only when you understand the spirit of the rule.
  • Middle Ages Project - provides several media options for students to show understanding of the Middle Ages, including The Canterbury Tales.
  • Mobiles - Looks at the elements of mobiles and shows works from Alexander Calder, Jackie Matisse, Andy Goldsworthy, and Henri Matisse. Serves as the background information to the "Leaves, No Litter" assignment where students develop 3-dimensional pieces to support an anti-litter campaign.
  • Patterns - shows the step-by-step design process to create a multitude of patterns.
  • Revisited Detailed Composite Drawing - provides students a continued view at the creative process, specifically how original ideas expand, grow, change, and evolve.
  • "Special Place" Tile - provides students a vehicle to broaden their comfort, understanding, and use of the creative process and to learn how to translate a two-dimensional drawing into a three-dimensional piece, ceramic tile.

History - Literature | Top

  • 1800's Poem - survey of British Poets of the 1800's and Original Poem Writing - provides a list of British poets and titles of some of their work discussed in class as well as a rubric for an original poem based on the study of the 1800s.
  • 9th Grade Semester Review Book (Fall 2001) - provides a vehicle for students to review semester content, organize thoughts, and make connections. Includes links to helpful writing tools.
  • 9th Grade First Semester Final - asks students to draw from content learned throughout the semester to create a closing statement that shows how they plan on crossing the threshold from youth to adulthood.
  • 10th Grade First Semester Final - asks students to draw from content learned throughout the semester to create a closing statement that shows how they plan on applying their learning to make our lives better.
  • 10th Grade Final Project - Spring Semester 2001 - asks students to synthesize their understanding of one aspect of culture from the Industrial Revolution through WWII by demonstrating their knowledge with a multimedia project and a one-page written abstract to be presented for their final exam as part of a gallery walk.
  • 10th Grade Montage - Article Abstract - provides an outline, with an example, of key elements to analyzing an article regarding an unresolved contemporary world problem or an organization that is working to solve or alleviate an unresolved issue.
  • "Ancient Greece" Essay Pre-Writing (World History chapter 5) - provides a chart with prompts for taking notes to show a comparison between Ancient Greece and today's form of democracy.
  • Anglo-Saxon Heroes, Analytical Essay - analyzes the heroic values of Beowulf, Arthur, and Robin Hood, three Anglo-Saxon heroes, who exemplified the most admired traits of their times and societies.
  • Art With a Voice Feature Article (SDJA Humanities 10 -2000-01) - provides essential ingredients, format of article, due dates, 19th century artists to consider, and a rubric.
  • Beowulf: Culminating Writing Assignment - offers students seven different writing prompts from which they must choose one to write a one-to-two page paper showing understanding of the epic poem, Beowulf and the writing skills to express that understanding. Includes eight characteristics of a hero from Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth (1988, New York: Doubleday) and selected writing tools to help create a powerful piece.

Top | History - Literature

Top | History - Literature

  • Postcards from the Edge Assignment Sheet - asks students to reflect on self and identify goals for this year.
  • Rise of Democratic Ideas and Rhetoric Synthesis - wrap up of ancient democractic ideas and current day rhetoric.
  • Rise of Democratic Ideas Project - synthesis of what was learned about one of seven topics in relation to the "Rise of Democratic Ideas" resulting in an abstract and a PowerPoint presentation to the class. See PowerPoint Tips which include additional presentation links.
  • River of Words - to know our own home ground, to know available tools and how to use them, to recognize the interaction of our home ground and available tools, to find answers and see connections, to deal with complexity and not be overwhelmed. The Wisdom of Faith with Huston Smith "Hinduisim and Buddhism" - a worksheet to help understand the video.
    Analytical Essay on Myths - provides possible thesis ideas, explains the "process", and shows rubric for the River of Words essay.
  • The Roman Empire - synthesis of what was learned about one of eight topics in relation to the "The Roman Empire" resulting in an abstract and a PowerPoint presentation to the class. See PowerPoint Tips which include additional presentation links.
  • Romanticism as a period and a concept in literature - outline and comparative matrix highlighting the romantic period in literature
  • Romeo and Juliet
    Act 4 Poem: Who's responsible for Juliet's "death"? - helps students analyze the people, comments, and events, that helped to push Juliet to make her drastic decision.
    Subtext Exercise - Romeo and Juliet, 4.1-2 - provides an opportunity to look at the "real meaning" of the text rather than simply taking the words at face value.
    The Fate Debate in Romeo and Juliet - "Fortune's Fool" - looks at three quotes regarding fate and asks questions about the role fate played in R&J.
  • Sonnet Exercise - provides strategies to memorize, yes, memorize a sonnet as well as links to sonnets available on the web. We don't have students memorize anything as a general rule, but rules were meant to bend and this exercise calls for some bending over.
  • Time as Text: 1950's Coffee House - discover methods for finding answers about social history and the arts, to see how society and the arts interact and influence each other, to teach self and others about 1950's society and art. Essential Ingredients for Abstract - component of 50s project.
  • WebQuest - Myth, Legend, and Pop Icon - assignment will take advantage of the powerful resources available on the Internet and combine them with established research techniques to assist the student in creating a presentation about a myth, legend, or pop icon (MLPI). They will also create a poem using literary allusion to the MLPI. The students will present their findings to their peers and instructors using PowerPoint software. Myth, Legend, and Pop Icon Idea Bank - shows components required for listing a myth, legend, or pop icon.


Writing - Reading | Top

  • 9th Grade Vocabulary - list of vocabulary words based on weekly topics.
  • 10th Grade Vocabulary - list of vocabulary words based on weekly topics.
  • Analogies - explains analogies and how to solve them on the PSAT or SAT.
  • California Language Arts Standards for 9th and 10th Grades - Writing Rubric - provides a list of criterion by which students may evaluate their writing.
  • Chapbook - To provide a vehicle of rememberance. Each student will have an opportunity to reflect on the year and experiences in their life, along with the lessons learned.
  • Fill the Well - active (or incidental) pursuit of images to refresh our artistic reservoirs. Now includes a list of "inspirational" San Diego sites.
  • Found Square - use "found" words and design elements to create own statement and concept in a square (8x8") format; exercise in using unexpected words and design elements; encourages flexibility, spontaneity, and awareness of alternative creation sources.
  • How to Use Quotes - humm, what do you think, it's about using quotes in text.
  • The House on Mango Street Vignette Writing - vignettes written in the style of Sandra Cisneros.
  • Memoir Annotation - a rather extensive and diverse list of memoirs read and commented on by students - helpful when looking for something good to read.
    For additional recommendations check out: SDJA - Book Reviews
  • Memoir Rubric - rubric that delineates criterion for memoir project which is intended to provide experience with the creative process of an extended piece, to assist seniors with college essays, to extend the Journey Into Self, to explore the genre of memoir.
  • My Name is Me and I Am It - building community, beginning journey into self, establishing course expectations, and using creative process.
  • One True Sentence - "All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence you know." - Ernest Hemingway
  • Reading Journal Entry (Spring 2002) - instructions for responding in the Reading Journal, a weekly literature exercises (these instructions provides expanded response options).
  • Reading Journal Letter - instructions for responding in the Reading Journal, a weekly literature exercise.
  • Re-vision - another check list, this time intended to correct your vision.
  • Sense Web - starts the brainstorming process for creating show, not tell senses.
  • Show, Not Tell - technique developed by Rebekah Kaplan to help students write so that they are able to create a picture in the reader's mind, to get away from the repetition of such empty words as weird, really neat, beautiful, wonderful, and b-o-r-i-n-g.
  • Sonnet Exercise - provides guidelines for learning and presenting a sonnet.
  • The 21 Club: Drink the Words - originated by Frank Barone and Gary Bardshaw, this assignment pushes writers to establish the criteria from which they would measure all their other writing. 21 Club Feedback - provides a matrix of key elements for peer editing. The 21 Club: Rubric - identifies assignment rationale, kickoff pieces, steps of creative process, and grading rubric.


Pablo Neruda - Writing Project | Top

  • Pablo Neruda - Brief Bio: Politics and Poetry - Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) is arguably the most influential poet in the Spanish language.
  • The Power of Pablo Neruda's Poetry - displays several Neruda odes
  • Using The Book of Questions - check list on how to create a book of questions, but who has the answers?
  • Using Odes - check list on how to create an ode.
  • Using Natural Artifacts - another check list -- what the heck is going on here?
  • Pablo Neruda Style Ode Rubric - Assignment Rationale: To understand the nature of an ode, to take an everyday object and examine it more closely. See metaphorical possibilities in written and visual contexts (which in plain English means, how a term, phrase, or image-which may be created by using typography-is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in "…under a sky new-painted every day…")


Setting Goals


eyeMindCandy

  • Artists on the Cutting Edge - the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego's critically acclaimed literary and performing art series
  • Art Myers - public health physician/photographer celebrates life with AIDS in "Women First and The Children of Nyumbani" and with breast cancer in "Winged Victory:Altered Images. Transcending Breast Cancer".
  • Favorite Sites - represents an archaeological dig into the minds of WriteDesign.
  • Fill the Well - active (or incidental) pursuit of images to refresh our artistic reservoirs. Now includes a list of "inspirational" San Diego sites.
  • Martine Franck - Photojournalism - Capturing life - shows how "A photograph is a subjective impression."
  • Guide To Better Pictures - top 10 techniques from Kodak
  • Historical Context "Vitrian Man" - shows a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci and how he integrated mathematics and art. This link also provides a look at the historical and cultural context of art.
  • Illuminations - shows examples and brief overview of illustrated texts throughout history as well as links to additional resources.
  • Janus (Kenston HS, Chagrin Falls, OH ) - a high school literary magazine that received recognition of excellence in student literary magazines from the National Council of Teachers of English.
  • Layout Design Rules - provides rules of thumb for basic layout principles.
  • Look, Hold, Draw - provides a starting point for learning to draw.
  • MoPA - Museum of Photographic Arts
  • Poetry 180 - a poem a day for american high schools
  • "Poetry Inside Us All" - addresses the issue that poetry, art, appears in all of us.
  • Poetry of Quincy Troupe - three poems - "Poem Reaching For Something", "Untitled", and "Snow & Ice"
  • Poetry of Remembrance - provides a look at holocaust poetry and how it serves many purposes, the main one remembrance of an event we hope will never repeat itself.

Top | eyeMindCandy

  • "Querencia" - provides a writing exercise taken from Georgia Heard, Writing Toward Home (Heinemann 1995) intended to stimulate thought about finding a safe place to create art.
  • Quote responses
    "As all was inside a minded body." Katia Flumian
    "I don't ever want to feel like I did that day." - "Under the Bridge" - (Red Hot Chili Peppers) http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/7080/redhot.htm
  • River of Words Environmental Poetry and Art Contest - An international contest designed to nurture respect and understanding of the natural world by encouraging children to learn their "ecological address" and to describe through poetry and art their own "place in space."
  • Roman Vishniac - Children of a Vanished World - shows how photography functions as social conscience.
  • Submitting to the Literary Magazines, by Charlie Hughes - provides helpful information and links to those interested in getting their work published.
  • Synectics - shows how a graphic organizer can stimulate fresh thinking during the problem-solving process.
  • The Last Expression: Art and Auschwitz - The Last Expression project is a forum to explore the roles, functions, meanings and making of art in the Nazi concentration camps of World War II, focusing on the notorious site of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
  • The secrets photos keep - find the hidden clues in your family snapshots - Donna Jackson - My Generation, March April 2002, p. 16 - provides steps to see photographs with a new understanding.
  • Toscana Photographic Workshops - links to a variety of workshops taught by top international photographers.
  • WireTap Magazine - an independent information source by and for socially conscious youth. They showcase investigative news articles, personal essays and opinions, artwork and activism resources that challenge stereotypes, inspire creativity, foster dialogue and give young people a voice in the media. The WireTap Web portal provides a new generation of writers, artists and activists a space to network, organize and mobilize.


Resources | Top

Creative Process - provides a cure for "white fright" -- looking at a blank screen or piece of paper and not knowing what to do next.

Design Expectations - standards of design for all projects.

Design Online Resources - provides access to relevant and stimulating design resources available on the web.

  • Audience - addresses the use and theory of audience demographics to promote more effective communications.
  • Layout - provides information on good design practices and links to additional reference sources.
  • Typography - provides typographic terminology, sources for typefaces, magazines, organizations, and type theory.
  • Image - provides for direct acquisition of images and graphic devices for both print and screen reproduction.
  • Color - provides "html" codes for Web backgrounds and sources that discuss color theory, for both print and screen.
  • Education - lists schools and on-line educational resources

Design Rules of Thumb - basic rules of thumb in each area of design. Use these as a good place to start. Feel free to bend these rules, but only when you understand the spirit of the rule.

  • Audience - about understanding your audience.
  • Layout - about designing layouts
  • Typography - what do you think? You're right, about typography, one of my many passions.
  • Image - you guessed it, images and how to use them.
  • Color - yep...color, with examples too.

Glossary - substantial list of writing, design, and technology terms.

Top | Resources

Graphic Organizers - site directory to 20 graphic organizers, including definitions and applications. The following links display graphic organizers intended for use in the areas of:

  • Analyze - shows interactions and describes central ideas.
  • Brainstorm - shows how different tools facilitate the brainstorming process. Synectics - shows how a graphic organizer can stimulate fresh thinking during the problem-solving process.
  • Compare and Contrast - shows different ways to list information for analysis.
  • Evaluate - shows options for determining the significance, worth, or quality of a decision.
  • Hypothesize - provides two looks at developing a hypothesis.
  • Interact - shows the nature of an interaction between persons or groups.
  • Sequence - provides six tools to show prioritizing, time lines, series of events, and other methods for looking at a sequence.
  • Visualize - shows how sketching serves as a note-taking and or idea-collection device.

Historical and Cultural Context - provides an overview of art movements and the context in which they developed. We have not covered every movement or period, rather selected snippets to help provide students with an opportunity to explore the elements that have influenced other artists in their quest for expressing personal voice. As with all of our work, this site remains a work in progress.

Note-taking and In-class Skills - tips on taking effective notes.

On-Line Resources - provides access to relevant and stimulating writing and design resources that are available on the web.

PowerPoint Tips - which include additional presentation links.

Quotes - shows what we believe and how we live, at least how we would like to live.

Sample PSAT/NMSQT Questions - The Verbal Section - provides practice and strategies to assist in preparing for the PSAT

WordList - words intended to jump start your mind and fuel your vocabulary.

Works Cited and Writing Style Guides - shows an example of a Works Cited listing and provides links to several writing style guides such as MLA and APA.

Writing Online Resources - provides access to relevant and stimulating writing resources available on the web.

  • Reference Sources - links to an assortment of useful reference materials including links to English, International, Acronym, a variety of Thesauri, Technical Dictionaries, etc.
  • Writing for the Web - includes style guides and resources that provide worthwhile information about writing specifically for the Internet.
  • Get Published - links sources to publishers and helpful information on how to get published.
  • MUDs and MOOs - provides information on the world of interactive storytelling.
  • Education - lists schools and on-line educational resources.


Grading | Top

  • 9th Grade Metacognition (First 9 Weeks) - asks students questions about their individual learning and provides a list of activities to date.
  • 10th Grade Metacognition (First 9 Weeks)
  • California Language Arts Standards for 9th and 10th Grades - Writing Rubric - provides a list of criterion by which students may evaluate their writing.
  • Grading Philosophy - SDJA high school humanities is based upon the concept of intellectual integrity through the guided use of intrinsic motivation and metacognition.
  • Grading Rubric - illustrates the traits that will make you a successful learner. This type of assessment tool encourages students to emphasize the process of learning as opposed to making their primary focus the pursuit of points to get a good grade.
  • Metacognition (First 3 Weeks) - asks four questions designed to promote the student's understanding of their learning process.


Portfolios | Top

  • Basic Portfolio Template - use the following as a guide to address the content and reflection components of the rubric.
  • Nuts and Bolts of Your Portfolio - directs the student through the key elements of creating a portfolio.
  • Portfolio Presentation Outline Tips - provides a format that may be helpful to you, the student presenter. However you choose to organize your presentation, please be sure to reflect the traits listed on the grading rubric.
  • Portfolio Reflection Feedback - asks portfolio reviewer seven prompts in order to direct their feedback.
  • Portfolio Rubric - provides criteria for portfolio assessment.
  • Volunteer Facilitator Instructions (adapted from "The Sounds of Learning: Portfolio Presentations" by Michelle Mullen and Blaze Newman, San Dieguito High School Academy) - provides an overview for the participants in the portfolio presentations.


San Diego Jewish Academy | Top


Topics of Interest (we hope) | Top

  • Favorite Sites - represents an archaeological dig into the minds of WriteDesign.
  • Overview of Curricular Integration - outlines elements found helpful in developing an integrated curricula based on research and personal experience. Presented at the 11th Annual CALCP and CAROC/P Joint Conference, November 18, 1998, in San Diego, California.
  • Rules of Conduct - statement about what we expect from our students and what they can expect from us.


WriteDesign Specifics | Top

  • Index - splash page, includes statement on how we feel about what we do and links to main pages.
  • WriteDesign Background - narrative submitted to the California School Board Association's 1998 Golden Bell Awards and provides program background information illustrated with quotes from students, educators, and community members.
  • WriteDesign Philosophy - statements that embrace our feeling about writing and design.


Teachers | Top

Melissa McKinstry - mmckinstry@sdja.com

  • Portfolio - Melissa McKinstry's poetry portfolio.
  • Vita - Melissa McKinstry's list of professional experiences.

Doug Kipperman (aka Doug's World) - mrdoug@aznet.net

  • Tribute to Lew - a tribute to the man, his partner, and his legacy through images and words spanning 93 years.
  • Doug's Experiment - series of pastel-like drawings inspired by the California Central Coast and Sarah-Rose.
  • We hear the word no... (a flash movie) - this particular piece represents the beginning of a series of flash collaborations with Melissa.
  • Photos of Africa - shows pictures taken on a camera safari in 1976.
  • Sketchbook - well filled with daily insights and random thoughts.
  • Sketchbook, The Beginning - in the beginning I started a sketchbook...ok, lame, but you have to start somewhere and this is it.
  • Sketchbook, Crayons - I never thought I would use crayons as a medium, but I did and enjoy using them. Try it, you will find lots of surprises.
  • Partial portfolio - a few more facets.
  • Bio - a bio is pretty much what you would think it would be, a bio.
  • Vita - for those of you interested in my professional background, this is the place to see if I'm for real or just a digital fabrication.
  • EdTec - look at my experiences with the SDSU masters program.
  • Yosemite - 6th grade trip 2000 - drawing, photography, and poetry.
  • Yosemite - 6th grade trip 1999 (There are three parts) - drawing, photography, and poetry.
  • River of Words - 9th grade cross-curricular project.
  • San Diego - Sha'ar HaNegev Teacher Exchange - photo slide show, poetry, narratives, sketches, and links that reflect an artistic view of Melissa's and my journey through Israel.
  • coincidence - excerpts from a conceptual multimedia arts show centering on 1919 expressionism.
  • The adventures of my pal Pete - many years ago, many lives ago, I created a character - "My Pal Pete." The character was based on my dog and best friend. As a result of life's mysterious journey I had to leave Pete in California while I learned the ways of design in the Big Apple. Just recently, while taking a Spanish class, I resurrected some of my drawings for a children's bilingual story (still in development). Permiso, mi español es muy malo. So, I received help from several friends, Lily Perez, Keara Sease, and Jackie Schuller. Let me know what you think..
  • Nephuncular conversation - result of an outing with my nephew.
  • Doug Went Off - I've been known to go off on tangents...
  • San Diego Jewish Academy - SDJA is in the process of growth. After 20 years of educating San Diego's Jewish community, starting in San Carlos and moving to La Jolla, the Academy is expanding into a new facility in Carmel Valley. The SDJA web site is one of many changes taking place at the Academy.
  • SDJA logo development - San Diego Jewish Academy was in the process of exploring its corporate identity. This page shows several initial concept logos which finally led to the logo seen on the SDJA site created by Nadine Benrey.
  • WriteDesign - collaborative effort to integrate across disciplines (enough edu speak for you, yeah me too) a very cool site that shows what happens when two people share their passion for writing, art, design, and technology.


E-Mail Doug at mrdoug@aznet.net or Melissa at mmckinstry@sdja.com

Melissa and I would like to
thank
znet for
making a commitment to
education and WriteDesign.